Balancing act for Rivers, Del Negro
It’s easy to forget they’re friends.
When Celtics coach Doc Rivers left his postgame news conference tonight, he ran smack into his nemesis for this playoff series, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro, in the hallway between the locker rooms. The two embraced.
“Nice job,” Del Negro said to Rivers before they parted ways.
The Celtics and Bulls could not have drummed up a more intense series. Through five games, the Celtics lead by the slimmest of margins, their 3-games-to-2 lead hinging on three overtime games and four OT periods overall.
Players have fouled out. Blood has been drawn. But after each game, Rivers and Del Negro have found a moment to put it all behind them. The two played together in San Antonio, and Rivers has been something of a mentor to Del Negro since he took the Chicago job this year.
“Vinny and I are really close friends,” Rivers said before Game 2. “That’s difficult. We talk a lot. It’s one of those things where you don’t really enjoy a series like this because it’s someone you really care about.”
Del Negro grew up in the state and still has family in the area. He had a large entourage with him tonight, and Rivers seemed to know them all, shaking several hands and kissing several cheeks on his way back to the Celtics locker room.
“You’re making him tired,” a member of Del Negro’s crew said to Rivers. “It’s all your fault.”
Rivers just smiled.
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